What is a Nook?
HOW TO BUILD A NOOK IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
Nooks can be created in almost any community, but they have the most impact in communities that face marginalization or poverty or both. You know such a place and feel a nook could make a difference? Then let’s begin
Nook's creation Process
It takes 12 months to create a Nook. The steps are as follows
Step 1 : PREP
Partnership building and Community introduction. In this phase, we try to understand in depth about the issues of the community and try to listen to their stories. We also talk about the Nook and ask them what they would use it for. It is also the time for arranging for the physical space, purchasing materials and tools, etc. to make the community and space ready for the nook.
Step 2 : IGNITE
Nook Setup, Induction and Cycle 1. In this phase a DEFY team member will arrive at the location and stay for a month, conducting the induction program, to introduce self-learning and self-governance. It is also an important training phase for the first Admin of the Nook.
Step 3 : SUPPORT
A learning culture, early impact and Cycle 2. The DEFY team member will return. From this point until the end of the project, another DEFY team member will stay in constant touch with the Admin and the community, and help the learner progress forward and create their own learnings. This period will involve a lot of learnings for the Admin.
Step 4 : STABILIZE
Connect with the world, maintain the learning routine and culture. This will be a repetition of the cycle and a way for the community to practice using and managing the space. We will now take a smaller role and help only when challenges come, and let the community lead
Step 5 : HANDOVER
Community takeover. DEFY will step out of the project, ensuring that the community completely owns the Nook and is able to manage it, and will not need any help from DEFY anymore.
Physical Space
Physical spaces in the targeted location/community. Each nook is required to have at least about 1000 Sq. Ft physically divided into sections or It may even be a 2 or 3 bedroom house. One section will comprise of workstations, one section for tools, one section for consumables, one section for material and junk items And one section for the finished goods. The physical space’s attributes would be easy to approach with furniture and all basic amenities (like electricity, water, washrooms and power backup).
Tools and Stationaries
A nook begins with a basic set of tools that we recommend, that includes simple hand tools like screwdrivers, saws, hand-drill, etc., electronic components and programming boards, art and craft tools like glue guns etc. and basic stationary. A lot of usable trash and junk is collected, taken apart, categorized and stored as making material.
Laptops
Laptops are among the most important tools of the nook. We recommend 10 laptops for a nook user-base of 50-60 individuals. Laptops, at the minimum, should not be more than 3 years old and should be able to use Internet and function satisfactorily.
Finances
It takes about 12,00,000 INR or 18000 US Dollars to create the Nook and run it for the first year. It is important to start with at least this much ready finance so that the Nook does not have to stop in between. Post year 1, the annual.cost of running the Nook comes down to a third. About 4,00,000 INR or 6000 US dollars. The average monthly running cost of a Nook is about 30000 rupees or approx 500 US Dollars.
Internet
This is another important access tool. A nook should have the best possible and feasible internet connection. However, we understand that some places may not have internet and there may be solutions for that.